Kissimmee mayor arrested on theft and fraud charges

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 20:02 · Archive

Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa has been arrested and charged with grand theft and organized scheme to defraud.

Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa was arrested Wednesday morning on charges of grand theft, a second-degree felony, and organized scheme to defraud, a first-degree felony, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced. She is accused of improperly obtaining $50,000 in city grant funds for businesses owned or controlled by her family.

According to the arrest warrant, Espinosa took office in November 2024 and later advocated for and voted on the creation and expansion of the city's Business Boost 2.0 programme, which distributed federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to eligible small businesses. When applications opened in September 2025, Espinosa and immediate family members applied for grants for three businesses they owned or controlled, seeking $50,000 in total. The applications were approved and the money was deposited into accounts linked to the family on 7 November.

The city attorney advised Espinosa on 5 December that accepting the funds created a prohibited conflict of interest and instructed her to return the money. According to the warrant, she did not return it or take corrective action. Espinosa told investigators she disagreed with the city attorney's opinion and believed it was motivated by personal animus. She also maintained that her businesses had suffered COVID-19-related losses. Attorney General Uthmeier said the grant money was intended to help small businesses recover, not to enrich the mayor who controlled the programme.

How it is being reported

• Uthmeier announces arrest of Kissimmee mayor accused in $50K grant fraud caseKissimmee Mayor Eva Jacquelyn Espinosa was arrested on charges she improperly obtained $50,000 in city grant funds for businesses owned or controlled by her family, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced.News4Jax · 21 Oct, 19:43
• Kissimmee mayor arrested on theft, fraud charges, AG saysFlorida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Wednesday morning that Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa has been arrested, stating that Jackie Espinosa is being charged with grand theft and an organized scheme to defraud.Clickorlando · 21 Oct, 14:21

In this story: Jackie Espinosa · James Uthmeier · Kissimmee · Florida

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